US Visa for Nigerian Citizens From Dubai: The 2026 Suspension Explained

What actually changed on 1 January 2026

Presidential Proclamation 10998, signed 16 December 2025, partially suspended visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries, Nigeria among them, effective 1 January 2026 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time. For Nigerian nationals specifically, the suspension covers B1/B2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visas, and all immigrant visa categories. This is separate from, and in addition to, a full suspension that applies to nationals of a different group of 19 countries, which does not include Nigeria.

The policy is confirmed on the official US Department of State travel advisory page, which is the primary source for this article and the one to check for any future update, since a proclamation of this kind can be amended.

Who is actually affected, and who is not

The State Department’s own guidance is direct on one point: applicants who are subject to the proclamation may still submit a DS-160, pay the fee, and attend an interview, but they may be found ineligible for the visa or for admission to the United States purely because of the proclamation, separate from the usual merits of their case. That is an important distinction from an ordinary refusal, and it is why this is not simply a matter of preparing a stronger application.

The visa bond requirement, on top of the suspension

Separately from Proclamation 10998, the US Visa Bond Pilot Program was made permanent on 3 August 2026 and now covers Nigeria among roughly 50 mostly African countries. Under this program, an applicant who is otherwise found eligible for a B1 or B2 visa may still be required to post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 before the visa is issued, with the exact amount decided by the consular officer based on factors including financial capacity, employment, purpose of travel, and ties to Nigeria. This bond exists alongside the suspension, not instead of it, so an applicant who is not covered by an exception to the suspension would need to clear that hurdle before the bond question even arises.

Applying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi as a Nigerian citizen resident in the UAE

Nigerian citizens legally resident in the UAE can apply for a US visa as a third country national at the US Consulate General in Dubai or the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, without needing to return to Nigeria. You still apply on your Nigerian passport, complete the DS-160 online, pay the MRV application fee, and book biometrics and an interview at whichever post has availability. Living in the UAE does not change your nationality for the purpose of the proclamation, so the same suspension and bond rules apply whether you file from Lagos or from Dubai.

Given the current restriction, anyone in this position should treat a US visit visa as a genuinely uncertain outcome right now, regardless of how strong the supporting documents are, and should have a realistic conversation about timing and alternatives before spending money on fees, biometrics appointments, and a potential bond.

How Visa Doctor helps

We give Nigerian clients in the UAE an honest read on where they actually stand before they spend anything. That includes checking whether a dual nationality or an existing valid US visa changes your situation, explaining what the bond program would mean in practice if your application proceeds, and, where a US trip is not realistic in the near term, helping you plan a Schengen or UK application instead, since both remain unaffected by this proclamation and are often a faster path to the same business or leisure trip.

If a US trip is not realistic right now, our guide to current UK visit visa fees and our guide for African nationals applying for a UK visa from the UAE cover an alternative route that is not affected by this proclamation. Our visa document checklist generator, visa cost calculator, and visa approval chance calculator all help you plan a Schengen or UK application instead, and our passport and travel index shows where a Nigerian passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access without any US application at all. Browse all our free visa tools for more.

For general background on how US visa refusals work outside of this proclamation, see our guide on what a 214(b) refusal means and how to respond, and our explainer on the US visa integrity fee, which still applies on top of the standard MRV fee for any nationality that can currently apply. Nigerian citizens applying for the UK instead of the US can also compare notes with our guide for Kenyan citizens applying for a UK visa from the UAE, since the document standard is broadly similar.

Frequently asked questions

Last reviewed September 2026. Visa rules, fees and processing times change frequently. Always confirm current requirements on the official government or consulate website before booking travel. Visa Doctor is a licensed private service provider (SPC Free Zone 4417571.01) and is not a government authority; we do not issue visas.